Water Rules Don't Dampen Work Effort

The state wants to ensure that Florida's water resources stay at acceptable levels. But all the Gaulins want to do is to stay in business.

Since water restrictions went into effect a week ago Saturday for most of Central Florida, the Gaulins' Quick Car Care Centers have seen a 60 percent drop in business.

''People think we are closed because of the restrictions,'' said Joe Gaulin Sr., who with his two sons, Joe Jr. and Mike, have owned the car wash centers in Leesburg and Eustis for 2 1/2 years. ''But they don't apply to us.''

The last water restrictions were mandated for a year in 1981 when the district's 19 counties, including Lake, had record-low rainfall. And this year, it's happening again in the district with an average of 7 1/2 inches less rain than last year.

The district rules stipulate that lawn watering will be limited to three days a week, car washing at home will be allowed only on days of lawn watering, and nurseries, golf courses and farmers will have a set of complex restrictions, too.

The district wants to reduce water consumption by up to 15 percent.

While normally the car wash centers are busy with an average of 60 to 100 cars rolling in daily, this week they waited patiently for business. On average this week, 20 cars were washed daily. And at an average of $4 per wash, that doesn't do much for their profit margin.

''People have been calling to see if we are open,'' said Joe Gaulin Jr. ''Even some of the people who come in to get their car washed have had questions.''

To get attention, Mike Gaulin has posted a sign at the Leesburg car wash that says: Don't go without because of the drought. Let us wash your car.

''We've had some comments on it. Some people are noticing it,'' he said. ''But if some of our customers from Fruitland Park don't drive by, they won't know.''

A sign has yet to go up at the Eustis location.

''We just want to get the word out that we are open,'' said Joe Gaulin Sr.

The Gaulins are patiently waiting out the restriction period. However, other businesses that use lots of water such as restaurants and nurseries haven't been drastically affected.

Several restaurants said they are watching the amount of water they are using, but that hasn't been transferred to customers.

Nursery owner Joe Wise, of Wise Garden Center in Fruitland Park, said his plants haven't suffered under the restrictions.

Wise uses a drip irrigation system that automatically saves the waste of water. He said 80 percent of water used in overhead irrigation systems is wasted on the floor.

''We have been hand-watering some plants. We are doing the best we can,'' he said.

City officials also are watching water consumption.

In Tavares and Leesburg, officials at the water plants have seen water consumption reduced as much as 15 percent.

For example, about 1.6 million gallons of water was pumped in Tavares a few days before the restrictions went into effect. As of earlier last week, that figure was down by as much as 200,000 gallons.

Local law enforcement agencies have confirmed that consumption is down. Although several residents have been issued warnings, no citations have been issued for violation of the restrictions, said officials with Eustis, Leesburg, Tavares, and the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Residents can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and 60 days in jail for violating the state mandate.